Oviedo Juice Squeeze Out League Victory

Sports - Baseball

Mark Schanback envisions his Central Florida Baseball League champions representing the area well at the National Amateur Baseball Congress World Series, under way in Wichita, Kan.

Schanback is player-manager for the Oviedo Juice, the CFBL champion after rallying to overcome the Orange County Twins in the league playoffs.

''It was pretty storybook,'' Schanback said. ''The league is set up in two division, with two halves, four teams in the playoff. It was down to the Maitland Braves, Oviedo Juice, Orange County Twins and Winter Springs Mets.''

Schanback beat the Braves, and John DeClue, a former Apopka High School pitcher and Florida Southern grad, beat the Mets in a do-or-die single game. That led to a weeklong, best-of-three series between the Braves and Twins.

''They beat us bad (11-0) in the opening game, and we were in trouble,'' Schanback said. ''We were in do or die. We pitched Frank Ricci, he's the oldest guy in the league, and he threw a complete game shutout, and we won, 7-0.

''That set up the championship last Sunday, and Darrin Reichle pitched for us. He used to pitch for Oviedo and the San Diego Padres organization until he had arm trouble.

''But he can pitch once every seven days, and he had plenty of rest for this one,'' Schanback said. ''He got relief help from Kerry Weedon, who was a catcher in high school but is now a fine pitcher for Valencia (Community College). I came in and got the last out of the game on a comebacker, and we go to Wichita.''

It's been three years since Schanback took a team to Wichita, which for a 32-year-old pitcher is a field of dreams. Ricci is 33. But Schanback's real happiness is bringing along the Caropressos, father Mario, who will coach, and son Paul.

''We are allowed to pick up five players from other teams, and we have added DeClue to pitch, and Paul,'' he said.

''We're hoping to showcase their talents to the pro scouts out there. From a prospect stance, considering age and other factors, they are two best,'' he said.

''The Caropressos are a really good story,'' Schanback said. ''Mario really has put his heart into it (Central Florida Baseball League) for his son's sake, and it's nice for them to be able to go out there together.

''Mario's going to be my assistant coach. His son is quite a player. He hit 13 or 14 home runs this summer alone. A big kid, about 220 (pounds). Even though they didn't win it outright, their skills warrant making the trip.''

For Steve Reich, CFBL president, it's a happy ending for an 11th season that included eight teams for most of the season with seven finishing, and most importantly, ''great cooperation from the city.''

The league pays the NABC Tournament $1,000 entry fee, and Reich said $12,000 goes to the winning team.

''We had success this year, in raising enough money to send them out there with an additional $3,000,'' Reich said.

Schanback is just happy to be going back to Wichita. ''It's something you start out looking forward to being the fortunate one,'' he said. ''It's been three years since I've done that, so it's nice to be back.''